If you've perused Bo fanart at all online, you've undoubtedly come across sketches of Bo with a giant pointy nose.
These are the creations of Lomleyo (her real name is Kat), but she does SO much more than just caricatures of Bo.
Her realistic paintings are second-to-none in terms of accuracy, and she has posted an insane amount of drawings in a variety of styles on Reddit, including one of my favorites (the Anxious for Life shirt kills me!).
Once I realized these very different pieces of art were all by the SAME person, I knew I had to talk to her about her process and why she prefers giving Bo a rat-like face among other topics.
Luckily, Kat was kind enough to answer all of my burning questions (and then some)!
Here is my interview with Kat, which has been edited and condensed for clarity purposes.
Bo Burnham Historian: Hi, Kat! Thanks for taking the time to chat with me about your art.
Kat: Hey! It's no problem.
BBH: Wonderful!
To start off, can you please provide some details about yourself and your background?
Kat: Sure!
Howdy! My name’s Kat, otherwise known as “Lomle” or “Lomleyo!” I’m 26 years old (turning 27 in February) and I’m an artist based in some nowhere town, in the good ol’ bible belt of Kentucky, USA!
Currently unemployed, but I’ve been a caretaker to an elder with dementia for several years now.
BBH: Wow, that must be hard to manage. I'm glad you have your artwork to keep you sane!
Speaking of which, how did you get started with your art? Are you formally trained?
Kat: Stereotypical artist response here: I’ve been drawing since before I was even conscious of what art was. I think, at my youngest, I liked to draw frogs and trees.
I did eventually go to school for it, though! I graduated in 2019 with a Bachelor of Arts degree (a focus in painting) and I minored in art history. I miss being an art student every single day!
BBH: Congratulations on getting your degree!
I really enjoyed the art history course I took at Lafayette College—it made me more well-rounded (e.g., I can see the Caravaggio element in one of my favorite works of yours lol).
Do you have any other artistic influences? Are there specific artists who inspire you?
Kat: I love talking about influences! I’ve always adored the work of Keith Haring, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Egon Schiele the most.
Haring, Basquiat, and Schiele
But my biggest, most notable inspiration, I think, has always been Daniel Johnston. A singer, songwriter, and an artist. He passed away in 2019, and it was devastating. I was distraught over it for months. He was incredible, and his work meant everything to me.
BBH: I'm sorry to hear that, but at least he's helping you create new art. And I love Keith Haring too (he reminds me of Clarissa Explains It All!).
Fun fact: One of Bo's celebrity crushes as a teen was Melissa Joan Hart, and he didn't realize until much later that Clarissa was also Sabrina the Teenage Witch!
So back to Bo. When did you first become a fan? Have you known about him for a long time, or did you discover him through Inside?
Kat: Oh, jeez! It’s been a long time! Honestly, it’s been so long, I don’t even remember what my first introduction to him was!
I do have this vague memory of riding in the car with a friend back in high school. And he played “Left Brain, Right Brain.” It was my first time hearing anything from what. At the time, I thought it was fuckin’ ridiculous.
BBH: Oh wow...you've been a fan for close to a decade then! I only started in 2019 after I saw Eighth Grade.
So what inspired you to make art about Bo?
Kat: I’m so happy to finally get the chance to talk about this!
I could totally tell you I love drawing him because he looks like a big cartoon (which he does).
But, in all honesty, my reasons for making so much art of him are…in a way, for the sake of commentary, I guess. Over the years, he’s made a lot of references to the relationship between performer and audience. Some of his work often reflects the experience of being perceived.
My art, I like to think, is a reflection of how I (an audience member) personally perceive him. It’s fascinating to me. He makes art to be seen, but also uses that same platform to address the anxiety of being seen. And I make art based on my own perception of that. I don't know if that makes any sense at all.
Also, not to be blunt, but I’m mentally ill. Very much so. His commentary on anxiety and depression has always meant the world to me. Which is why, even when I exaggerate his face to an insane degree, I’m always insistent that it’s done with love.
I truly do love all that he does. I think at its core, overall, my work comes from a place of love.
Bo as Gandalf (He's a Tolkien white guy)
BBH: I completely understand that impulse! I suffer from anxiety and depression as well, so Bo's art speaks to me on a level I can't fully explain either.
It's just really helpful to know other people face these problems...makes me feel less alone, you know?
Anyway, what mediums do you prefer to use for your art?
Kat: I mostly stick to digital art these days! I use a big, clunky Cintiq and Clip Studio Paint. But, lately, I’ve been tryin’ to get back into the traditional stuff. I’ve actually got the goofiest acrylic painting of him sitting unfinished in a room. Might have to come back to it soon.
BBH: Nice—I'd love to see it when you're done!
What's your favorite piece of Bo fanart that you've made? Least favorite?
Kat: There’s two drawings that immediately come to mind. I desperately wish I could capture their energy again.
I did this one piece based on Inside. Just a silly, ridiculous doodle of him hunched over a tiny keyboard in the room. Something about it, just in my opinion, really captured the essence of what Inside was to me.
And there’s this other one, just a scribble. Him with the book on his head in what. No drawing I’ve ever done of him even compares. It’s the closest I’ve ever gotten to capturing what he looks like in my eyes.
As far as least favorites go, there’s a ton. So many sketches and paintings of him have come out unsuccessfully, but I post them anyway.
BBH: That's nice that you post both your failures and your successes...very down-to-earth attitude toward art.
One of my favorites of your recent pieces is the Peanuts-inspired drawings of Bo as Charlie Brown and Schroeder. What led to you associating Bo with Schulz's comic strip?
I totally agree with you by the way and even wrote about it myself on Halloween last year.
Kat: I really am so happy to hear that you like those as much as you do!
I got the idea after I saw some old Charles Schulz drawings of Woodstock. And I thought, damn, Bo looks like Woodstock. A really long Woodstock.
I started drawing him as Woodstock, but halfway through had this realization that so much of his persona in recent years just…radiates this…agoraphobic, melancholy, Charlie Brown energy. In a way, I guess he’s a lot like Schroeder too.
And we’re all Lucy. We demand his attention.
BBH: It's so funny you mention Lucy because she's hands-down my favorite Peanuts character!
I also love the piece that depicts Bo as a duck. How did you conceptualize that one? And why does he look just like that mallard lol?
Kat: He’s lovely, really. Absolutely lovely. But I can’t help myself. When I see him, I see a cartoon. A big, lovable, depressed, anxious cartoon.
I’ve done way, way too many drawings over the years depicting his nose as this massive, beak-like thing. People have told me they don’t even think it’s that big! But it’s…it’s such a prominent feature to me!
The more I exaggerate, the more he starts to look like a bird! And I’m so sorry about that!
BBH: No need to apologize, but if any comic would have a massive nose in your artwork, I'd think it'd be Demetri Martin! Haha
Do you have any specific hobbies or interests people don't know about?
Kat: Ever seen Mallrats? It’s this completely outdated Kevin Smith comedy from the 90’s. It’s one of my favorite movies of all time. I watch it at least 10 times a year.
He’s got this other movie. It was his first. Clerks. I watch that one repeatedly too. I’ve probably watched Clerks more times than any other movie in my entire life.
BBH: Of course! I'm an elder millennial, so I'm well-versed in Kevin Smith's films and the View Askewniverse.
I also really enjoyed the Clerks animated show ("Oh my God, Bear is driving. How can that be?" Lol).
So about Bo. What's your favorite song/special by him? You can name more than one.
Kat: Comedy. I love Comedy. I adore Comedy. Listen, there’s so much he’s done that I consider to be absolutely ingenious. But Comedy is just so…I dunno, man! It tickles my brain in the best way!
I’m always depressed as hell. But no matter how terrible I feel, if I listen to Comedy, if I watch the Comedy bit from Inside, I swear…it’s an instant serotonin boost. Like an injection of joy into my veins. Who needs antidepressants?
That’s a joke. Please take your meds.
BBH: I love Comedy too. Such a travesty that it lost the Emmy to that Wandavision song! Ugh
Do you have any upcoming projects?
Kat: I’m taking a break from my life right now, to be honest. Caring for a senior is the hardest thing I’ve ever done. I’m away from home, staying somewhere for a few weeks. When I come back though, the world’s gonna have to endure my never-ending influx of Bo art all over again!
BBH: Good luck with that and take your time. The fandom will still be here to cheer on your art when you are back.
How can fans best support you currently? Are any of your pieces for sale or any social media that you'd like to plug?
Kat: I have an INPRNT! I sell so many prints there of my Bo art!
Here’s the link to the INPRNT: https://www.inprnt.com/profile/lomleyo/
I’d link my Twitter, but that place is the worst. It’d be better for everyone if it didn’t exist! Lol
BBH: Oh wow! You have some of my favorite pieces available for purchase...now I know what I want for my birthday this summer haha.
Thanks for all of your wonderful art, and please let us know when you decide to make more Bo pieces (even if they have absurdly large noses)!
Kat: It's my pleasure. Thank you so much for doing this!
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